Road commission expands

Berrien County officials vote to add two members.

Berrien County officials vote to add two members.

May 02, 2008|CAROL DRAEGER Tribune Staff Writer

ST. JOSEPH -- Add Berrien County to the list of nearby communities that have recently expanded their road commissions. On Thursday, the Berrien County Board of Commissioners voted, 8 to 5, to add two more members to the three-member board. Commissioners in favor of the expansion said better representation in the county is needed. Many, such as commissioners Marletta Seats, D-Benton Harbor, and John LaMore, R-Niles, said residents in their districts wanted the road commission board expanded in an effort to better represent all residents. Commissioner Bob Wooley, R-Coloma, who also approved the expansion, said the road commission's annual budget of about $14 million is too big for only a few board members to review. "They have way too big of a budget to be controlled by a majority of two," Wooley said, referring to decisions about road repairs that need only two favorable votes to be approved. But commissioners who voted against the expansion said at a time when local governments in the state are hurting for money, adding more government workers is not wise. "Rather than spend more money on additional members, we could be spending money on roads," said Commissioner Don Ryman, R-Buchanan, who voted against the expansion. He also said he thought the county was under a hiring freeze, which meant no new employees. Road commissioners are paid about $3,000 a year plus $50 per meeting they attend. Details about when the new members will be added need to be ironed out, said Board of Commissioners Chairman Dick Bartz. The county's personnel committee will look at whether the two new members should be appointed by geographic region or not, he said. County commissioners appoint road commissioners to six-year staggered terms. Recently road commissioners drew criticism when they announced the closing of the Watervliet garage to save money next year. The state changed a law governing road commissions about a year ago that opened the way for county boards to appoint more members to road commission boards. Many counties have done so. Last year, Cass County approved adding two new members to its board. And Van Buren recently voted to expand its road commission, too. Staff writer Carol Draeger: cdraeger@sbtinfo.com (269) 687-7005